Hong Kong FC (football)
 | |||
| Full name | Hong Kong Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Chinese: 港會 | ||
| Short name | HKFC | ||
| Founded | February 12, 1886 | ||
| Ground | Hong Kong Football Club Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 2,750 | ||
| Chairman | Mark Grainger | ||
| Head coach | Chancy Cooke | ||
| League | Hong Kong Premier League | ||
| 2023–24 | 7th | ||
| Website | https://www.hkfc.com/ | ||
|
| |||
The football section of Hong Kong Football Club (Abbreviation: HKFC; Chinese: 香港足球會) sports club fields a range of teams at various age divisions in Hong Kong leagues.[1] Their football team currently competes in the Hong Kong Premier League.[2]
History
[edit]While the football team has won many titles in the second-tier competition in recent years, they have rarely enjoyed success when playing against professional sides in the First Division. In 1980 however, the club managed to avoid relegation from the professional First Division for the first time in their history. One of the highlights of the season was a 1–1 draw with eventual champions Seiko SA. On 10 May 1980 at the HK Government Stadium CLUB defeated Kui Tan 1–0 with an 87th-minute penalty scored by John McGunnigle, meaning Kui Tan joined Yuen Long in the drop that year.
In the past few years, HKFC opted not to take promotion to the First Division. In 2006, finally, the club accepted the promotion after winning the Second Division. After showing initial promise, they lost 4 league matches in a row between March and April 2007 and were relegated to the Second Division. They did however become champions of the Second Division again in April 2010 and returned to the First Division. Therefore, HKFC is known as the yo-yo club in Hong Kong.
Uprise to the Hong Kong Premier League
[edit]2016–17 Season
[edit]In 2016, two years after the establishment of the fully professional Hong Kong Premier League, HKFC finally decided to seek promotion to the top flight after finishing as runners-up behind Tai Po in the 2015–16 season. Their stay in the top flight only lasted a single season. Their first HKPL season saw them only collect 2 wins and 6 points in 20 league games and saw themselves finishing bottom of the league with a staggering -64 goal difference. The club also recorded one of the biggest losses in their history with a 10-0 thumping to Kitchee,[3] becoming the highest scoring match of the season.
HKFC won the First Division for the first time in a century during the 2017–18 season, going unbeaten throughout the entire league campaign. The club declined promotion as they did not want to field a professional side.[4][5]
Return to the Hong Kong Premier League
[edit]2021–22 Season
[edit]After being crowned champions of the 2020–21 Hong Kong First Division League, on 19 August 2021, HKFC accepted the HKFA's invitation to be promoted to the 2021–22 Hong Kong Premier League, after the withdrawals of Happy Valley and Pegasus, having last appeared five years ago in the 2016–17 season.[6][7][8] The team then signed experienced players such as Brian Fok, To Chun Kiu, Oliver Laxton and Chris Chung to add quality to the squad in pre-season.[9] Following the season being cut-off by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the club by then had recorded a 6th-place finish in the league with 4 rounds in and 1 point. A poor showing in the Sapling Cup and FA Cup did not help much as they lacked quality.
2022–23 Season
[edit]Prior to the start of the 2022–23 season, the club announced the crucial signings of striker Paul Ngue,[10] others such as Alexandre Dujardin, Siu Ka Ming, Ng Tsz Chung, Emmet Wan, and Jack Sealy were brought in to help restructure the senior squad and increase their chances of survival.[11][12] The club then bid farewell to goalkeeper To Chun Kiu, who left for fellow Premier League club Sham Shui Po and defender Brian Fok who retired.[13] A number of youth talents from the club's youth teams were promoted, notably Timothy Chow, Raphael Merkies[14] and goalkeeper Fung Long Hin.
The team would collect all 3 points in their season opener to Sham Shui Po in a 1–0 victory with a penalty scored by Paul Ngue to settle the score.[15] HKFC, however, fell short in their second game as they fell to a 5-0 thumping by Kitchee in the Senior Challenge Shield.[16] HKFC then saw the arrival of experienced attacking player Paulinho joining the team with him making his debut in a historical 4–2 comeback to Tai Po FC in a 2022–23 Hong Kong Sapling Cup game, scoring twice and assisting Henry Moore for the equalizing goal.[17][18]
On February 5, 2023, goalkeeper Freddie Toomer became the first goalkeeper in the Hong Kong Premier League history to score a goal as he netted an acrobatic bicycle kick in the 90+6 minute to help the club equalize and salvage a point in a 1–1 draw to Resources Capital.[19] The match between Kitchee and HKFC at HKFC Stadium became the first game in the club's history to become a sellout, however, HKFC came on the losing end in a 3-0 humbling.[20]
Following the club's 2–0 victory over Sham Shui Po on 19 February 2023, the club broke their records as they recorded a 21-point finish following the game, breaking the former record of 20 points in the top-tier league way back in 1963.[21] Following their 1–0 loss to Eastern and the confirmation of their final league position, it was announced that another record had been broken as they had made history by finishing in 6th place, 5 places above the original record of 11th place back in the 2016–17 Hong Kong Premier League season. The club then finished the season on a high with a 2–1 victory over Southern with goals from Thiago and Timothy Chow sealing the victory, the match was also the final professional game for club legend Freek Schipper and veteran striker Shunsuke Nakamura.
Star goalkeeper Freddie Toomer's overhead equalizer against Resources Capital would win goal of the season from on.cc.[22]
2023–24 Season
[edit]Prior to the start of the 2023–24 season, the club said farewell to Raphaël Merkies and Alexandre Dujardin.[23][24] Yue Yixing was also revealed to have joined HK U23 on a free transfer in search of gametime.[25] Jahangir Khan was then leaked to have signed for the club [26][27] following a Hong Kong national team call-up announcement. In addition to Khan, the club also secured signings of former Southern defender Lau Hok Ming,[28][29] Harima Hirokane, Jordon Brown on loan from Kitchee along with young players Lee Chun Yin, Maddox Kong, Stefan Antonic[30] and Calum Bloxham to their ranks. Foreigners Dominic Johns who was formerly on trial with fellow HKPL club Eastern[31] was signed alongside Costa Rican-English defender Felix Perez-Doyle.[32]
The team would fall miserably to Kitchee in a 8–0 thrashing on season opening,[33][34] goalkeeper Issey Maholo was also forced off the pitch due to injury and on came striker Paul Ngue having to step up to go in goal due to the team having no reserve goalkeeper.[35] The team picked up their first win of the league campaign in a 1–0 outing victory against Sham Shui Po away before going on to lose the Hong Kong FA Cup[36] tie to the latter. The team would go on a 5-game, no-win streak across all competitions before claiming a dominant 4–1 win over Resources Capital at home following goals from 4 different players. HKFC crashed out of the Sapling Cup with a humbling 12 points in 10 games.
Defender Siu Ka Ming would depart the club for Kowloon City on a free in early January[37] with Maddox Kong and Hirokane Harima both departing on a free transfer citing personal reasons. Goalkeeper Fung Long Hin returned to the squad following a major absence in the goalkeeping department. The club would continue on a poor run of form, picking up only 9 points in the league from January across 11 games, with the most attention being a 1–0 home humbling of North District with the sole goal scored by a 42-year-old Paulinho, the game was a heated tussle for both sides as winger Dominic Johns suffered a nasty injury following serious foul play by the North District defender which lead to an uproar in the HKFC side to avenge their teammate.[38][39] The club finished the 2023–24 season in 7th place following a boring 0–0 tie to Sham Shui Po at Aberdeen Sports Ground with goalkeeper Fung Long Hin coming on as a winger as the club only brought him as the sole substitute.[40][41][42]
Paulinho retired following the end of the season.
2024–25 Season
[edit]Rumours of the club relegating ahead of the 2024–25 season surfaced online with the sources close the club claiming a verdict would be decided by the week after 29 May and was optimistic regarding the team's chances of remaining in the Hong Kong Premier League.[43] Defender Timothy Chow left the club for HKPL side Lee Man.[44][45][46][47]
On 31 July 2024, the club held a pre-season conference in which Chancy Cooke replaced Tony Hamilton-Bram as the new head coach. Whilst the club were also able to retain some of their experienced players from last season, they had acquired a number fresh players from Toby Down who was part of the Tai Po team that won their first Hong Kong Premier League title, former Hong Kong international Andrew Russell as well as the additions of young players which include the likes of Lai Hoi To, Wong Sum Chit, Ho Ka Chi and Lam Chi Fung.[48]
HKFC Soccer Sevens
[edit]The team is known outside Hong Kong for being the host of the annual HKFC Soccer Sevens youth-team seven-a-side tournament which attracts high-profile teams such as Manchester United, Aston Villa and Celtic.
Following a 3-year postponement, it was announced the soccer sevens would make a return in 2023, with teams such as Brighton, Fulham, and Glasgow Rangers youth teams invite to the tournament.[49] Les Ferdinand was also invited as the main guest of the drawing of teams during the 2023 edition of the tournament. He was spotted overseeing youth teams of HKFC and even interacted with some of the youth players.
Stadium
[edit]Hong Kong Football Club Stadium
[edit]The stadium was situated adjacent to the racecourse. But in 1995, as part of a redevelopment of the racecourse, the club moved into a brand new, 64,000 square meter, purpose-built home, with the main building being outside the race track, and the main pitch, all-weather hockey pitch, bowling green, and sports bar being inside the racetrack.[50] The stadium is currently used for the club's youth pathways teams, senior and youth rugby team and also serves as the home stadium of Lucky Mile FC. Aside from hosting regular league games, the stadium is also the host stadium of the annual HKFC Soccer Sevens which is a seven-a-side tournament with teams joining all over the world.
The stadium holds a home sellout record of 1,720 sold tickets during the 3–0 defeat of HKFC against Kitchee in the 2022–23 Hong Kong Premier League season.[51]
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- As of 30 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Remarks:
LP These players are considered as local players in Hong Kong domestic football competitions.
FP These players are registered as foreign players.
Club officials
[edit]Soccer Section Committee
[edit]| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Mark Grainger |
| Captain | Graeme Lane |
| Representative | Nigel Merritt |
| Secretary | Jun Li |
| Treasurer | Audrey Menard |
| Membership Secretary | Ivan Hung |
| Social Convener | Mia Williams |
| Communications Officer | Adrian Martin |
| Section Coach | |
| First Team Representative |  Jack Sealy
|
| Lucky Mile Representative |  Shinnosuke Kawasaki
|
| Junior Soccer Representative | Nam Nguyen |
Coaching Staff
[edit]Senior team[52]
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head Coach |  Chancy Cooke
|
| Assistant Coach |  Paulinho
|
| Assistant Coach |  Gilles Meyer
|
| Goalkeeping Coach | Justin Wah
|
| Technical Advisor | Anto Grabo
|
| Fitness Coach | Shaun Melwani
|
Youth teams
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Under-18 Manager | Paulinho
|
| Under-16 Manager | Chancy Cooke
|
| Under-16 Manager (Lucky Mile) | Gilles Meyer
|
| Under-16 Assistant (Lucky Mile) |  Dominic Johns
|
Development squads
[edit]Lucky Mile is the B or second team of the HKFC Soccer Section and has used the club's membership since the late 1990s.[53] The club now competes in the Hong Kong Second Division and is led by coach Rich Le-Gallez alongside assistant managers Leung King Yu and Ko Chun.
- Club Wanderers
- Club Albion
- Club Colts
Sponsors
[edit]| Kit Supplier | Main Sponsor | Youth Section Sponsor | Soccer Sevens Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
 Adidas
|
The Executive Center
|
AIA
|
Citibank
|
Season-to-season record
[edit]Note:
1st or Champions 2nd or Runners-up 3rd place Promotion Relegation
Honours
[edit]League
[edit]- Hong Kong First Division / Hong Kong Premier League (Tier 1)
- Champions (1): 1919–20
- Hong Kong Second Division / Hong Kong First Division (Tier 2)
- Hong Kong Third Division / Hong Kong Second Division (Tier 3)
- Champions (2): 1978–79, 1986–87
Cup Competitions
[edit]- Hong Kong Senior Shield
- Champions (5): 1898–99, 1907–08, 1915–16, 1918–19, 1921–22
- Hong Kong Junior Challenge Shield
- Champions (6): 1976–77, 1978–79, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2004–05
Head coaches
[edit]- Tony Sealy (1995–2016)
- Richard Ewart (2016–2018)
- Tony Hamilton-Bram (2018–present)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Hong Kong FC | Worldfootball". Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Team info: Hong Kong Football Club". Global Sports Archive. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ 體路 (7 April 2017). "【港超聯】傑志10蛋狂炒港會創港超紀錄". 體路 Sportsroad. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "梁孔德稱流浪無申請留級 元朗前途未決". Apple Daily. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018. (in Chinese)
- ^ "【港超聯賽】傾向來季維持10隊參賽 足總主席梁孔德：港會不打算升班". www.upower.com.hk (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "HKFC to professionalize, rejoin top flight". 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "港會升超 足總擬「香港08」翻生湊夠8隊". www.inmediahk.net. 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "港超︱下季港超隊數「坐七望八」 傳港會相隔4季升班 菁英盃擬再改制 (15:58) - 20210809 - 體育". 明報新聞網 - 即時新聞 instant news (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "港超︱升班馬港會認組軍倉卒 門將屠俊翹跟操上陣 友賽僅負晉峰 (20:16) - 20210905 - 體育". 明報新聞網 - 即時新聞 instant news (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "香港超級聯賽 Hong Kong Premier League - 【球員介紹—基奧】 新一季港超聯，前鋒球員基奧將會效力港會。基奧喺熱身賽有唔錯嘅表現，嚟緊會唔會喺比賽場上見到佢入波呢？ #HKPL #HKPL #香港超級聯賽 #HKPLISHERE #球隊介紹 #港會 | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ 袁志浩 (26 August 2022). "港超聯2022/23球隊分析：香港U23與港會遭看淡 仍有自信殺入中游". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "港超聯 港會友賽輸波 組軍工作未完成". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 14 August 2022. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "港超聯8.27開波！十路大軍賽前檢閱（下篇）". FanPiece (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "加盟港會首戰職業賽場 李小恆把握「空檔年」爭佳績". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 6 December 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "港超｜深水埗升班首擊主場失利 前港腳基奧助港會取兩季港超首勝 | 明報". LINE TODAY (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "【高級組銀牌】傑志新戰術炒港會五球 明加索夫梅開二度". www.inmediahk.net. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "機緣巧合加盟港會 福保羅再創驚喜". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 31 January 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "菁英盃 福保羅入兩球：好難忘！". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 6 November 2022. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "港超聯 門將費查補時入波 港會1比1逼和晉峰". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 5 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ "港超｜傑志作客大勝港會 今季首掛紅旗1720人坐滿地獄球場 (18:44) - 20230226 - 體育". 明報新聞網 - 即時新聞 instant news (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ 體路 (19 February 2023). "【港超聯】費查左飛右撲保清白身 港會力克深水埗續居前四". 體路 Sportsroad. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "港超聯 港會門將費查膺「年度最佳金球」". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "【冠忠南區簽入李小恆】". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "【𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱】- 香港𝐔𝟐𝟑宣佈杜國樑加盟，將穿起6號球衣。". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "【𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨, 𝐄𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞, 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝】". Facebook. Archived from the original on 12 December 1998. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ 袁志浩 (29 July 2023). "港超聯︱港會望證上季成績非偶然 劉學銘拒中甲邀請夥簡嘉亨來投". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "【港超聯】劉學銘加盟港會視生涯規劃 簡嘉亨力爭重返港隊 | 獨媒報導". 獨立媒體. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "港超聯 新季轉投港會 劉學銘：想爭前5". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "【港超聯】劉學銘為生涯規劃投港會 望簡嘉亨應付壓力重拾信心". Yahoo Sports (in Chinese). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "港超聯 港會6新兵亮相 主教練：勁過上季". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ 體路 (6 August 2023). "【港超聯】友賽末段連入三球 港會新兵建功反勝中西區". 體路 Sportsroad. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "港超聯 友賽反勝深水埗 港會主教練：仲有新兵". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "港超聯 金信煜戴帽 傑志贈港會8蛋". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 27 August 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ 袁志浩 (27 August 2023). "港超聯︱傑志大炒港會 金信煜11分鐘戴帽 主帥：爛船都有三斤釘". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Kitchee boss turns attention to Champions League as team crush Football Club". South China Morning Post. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "高級組銀牌賽第一回合賽事， #深水埗 憑 柏羅邦 39分鐘射入全場唯一入球，以 1:0 擊敗 #港會，晉身高級組銀牌八強！". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "下半季將會有2位球員加盟駿英九龍城，分別為上半季效力港會的蕭嘉明". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "莊文歷遭剷斷右腳 術後料休養半年 - 20240514 - 體育". 明報新聞網 - 每日明報 daily news (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "港超聯 莊文歷被剷傷 隊友：右腳兩條骨斷晒". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 13 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "中國香港足球總會". 中國香港足球總會. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ 睇體ontv Sports (26 May 2024). 【全場精華】港超聯-港會 0:0 深水埗. Retrieved 27 May 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "港超聯 馮朗軒客串場區球員 港會悶和深水埗". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Scott 'sad' over leaving amid Kitchee revamp, HKFC out to avoid self-relegation". South China Morning Post. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "港超聯｜周子謙加盟理文 披列斯奧戰衣接替徐宏傑". Yahoo Sports (in Chinese). 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "港超｜理文後防增兵 簽入亞運4強功臣周子謙". 星島頭條 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "港超聯 理文簽入18歲小將周子謙". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "【港超組軍】理文簽小將周子謙 流浪組宜嘉教練團". Now 新聞 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ 港超聯 港會開操！前港腳羅素「愛回家」 on.cc 31 July 2024
- ^ "港會七人賽5月尾重臨 多支英超球會派隊參賽 | 足球周刊 Football Weekly HK". 26 April 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ Twydell, Dave (1994). The Little Red Book of Chinese Football. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-80-1.
- ^ "港超｜傑志作客大勝港會 今季首掛紅旗1720人坐滿地獄球場 (18:44) - 20230226 - 體育". 明報新聞網 - 即時新聞 instant news (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Section Committee". HKFC Soccer Section. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "Hong Kong Football Club". www.hkfc.com. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
External links
[edit]- Hong Kong Football Club official website Archived 28 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- Hong Kong Football Club Junior Soccer Section official website
- Hong Kong Football Club Soccer Section official website
- HKFC Soccer Section
- HKFC: Soccer Section official Facebook group
- HKFC live scores at Sofascore